SPHL Weekly Recap: Top Performances, Standings and What’s Ahead | Week 12

Welcome to the SPHL Week 12 update! In this report, we again provide a comprehensive overview of the latest standings, recent game results, upcoming games, and individual player statistics for those leaders. You’ll find detailed information on the top performers in the league, including overall leaders in points, goals, and assists, as well as standout goaltenders and rookies. Additionally, we cover the latest transactions for each team, player suspensions, and highlight the players of the week and the Player of the Month for December 2024.

Division Standings

1. Huntsville
2. Peoria
3. Knoxville
4. Fayetteville
5. Roanoke
6. Birmingham
7. Evansville
8. Quad City
9. Macon
10. Pensacola

Sure, here’s a more straightforward version:

Huntsville leads the standings with 19 wins in 27 games, totaling 41 points and a win percentage of 75.9%. Peoria is close behind with 18 wins in 26 games, earning 40 points and a win percentage of 76.9%. Knoxville has 16 wins in 27 games, accumulating 34 points and a win percentage of 63.0%. Fayetteville has played 28 games, winning 16, for a total of 33 points and a win percentage of 58.9%. Roanoke has 14 wins in 23 games, resulting in 30 points and a win percentage of 65.2%. Birmingham has 12 wins in 25 games, with 27 points and a win percentage of 54.0%. Evansville and Quad City both have 11 wins, with Evansville playing 29 games (26 points, 44.8% win percentage) and Quad City playing 28 games (25 points, 44.6% win percentage). Macon has nine wins in 26 games, earning 20 points and a win percentage of 38.5%. Pensacola is at the bottom of the standings with seven wins in 27 games, totaling 17 points and a win percentage of 31.5%.

Recent Results

Sunday, January 5:

Fayetteville 2 at Quad City 7

Saturday, January 4:

Macon 0 at Knoxville 3

Huntsville 3 at Roanoke 4

Pensacola 5 at Birmingham 2

Peoria 8 at Evansville 4

Fayetteville 3 at Quad City 2 (OT)

Check out our SPHL Photo Galleries for 2024-2025

Upcoming Games

Friday, January 10

• Knoxville at Fayetteville
• Pensacola at Macon
• Peoria at Huntsville
• Evansville at Birmingham
• Roanoke at Quad City

Saturday, January 11

• Knoxville at Fayetteville
• Pensacola at Macon
• Peoria at Huntsville
• Evansville at Birmingham
• Roanoke at Quad City

Sunday, January 12

• Birmingham at Knoxville
• Macon at Pensacola

Goaltending

Colby Muise (Peoria) has been a standout performer this season, playing 22 games and logging 1305:13 minutes. He has secured 16 wins, 2 losses, and 1 overtime loss. Muise has recorded 5 shutouts and allowed 38 goals, resulting in a stellar goals-against average (GAA) of 1.75. He has faced 543 shots and made 505 saves, boasting an impressive save percentage (SV%) of 93.0%.

Dysen Skinner (Macon) has also been exceptional, playing 11 games and spending 596:45 minutes on the ice. He has achieved 4 wins and 4 losses, with no overtime losses. Skinner has one shutout to his name and has allowed 21 goals, giving him a GAA of 2.11. He has faced 320 shots and made 299 saves, resulting in a remarkable SV% of 93.4%.

Ty Taylor (Evansville) has played 15 games, totaling 863:56 minutes. He has recorded five wins, six losses, and an overtime loss. Taylor has allowed 33 goals, leading to a GAA of 2.29. He has faced 470 shots and made 437 saves, maintaining a strong SV% of 93.0%.

Mike Robinson (Huntsville) has been a key player for his team, appearing in 17 games and playing 1025:13 minutes. He has secured 13 wins, three losses, and one overtime loss. Robinson has a shutout and has allowed 40 goals, resulting in a GAA of 2.34. He has faced 530 shots and made 490 saves, with a solid SV% of 92.5%.

Brian Wilson (Huntsville) has also been impressive, playing 10 games and logging 604:33 minutes. He has achieved six wins, two losses, and two overtime losses. Wilson has not recorded any shutouts but has allowed 25 goals, giving him a GAA of 2.48. He has faced 350 shots and made 325 saves, resulting in a commendable SV% of 92.9%.

Leading Forwards

Points:

1. Tyler Williams (Knoxville Ice Bears) – 26 points
2. Tyson Gilmour (Evansville Thunderbolts) – 22 points
3. Zack Nazzarett (Peoria Rivermen) – 21 points

Goals:

1. Tyler Williams (Knoxville Ice Bears) – 10 goals
2. Tyson Gilmour (Evansville Thunderbolts) – 10 goals
3. Gustav Muller (Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs) – 9 goals

Assists:

1. Tyler Williams (Knoxville Ice Bears) – 16 assists
2. Filimon Ledziankou (Birmingham Bulls) – 15 assists
3. Zack Nazzarett (Peoria Rivermen) – 14 assists

Leading Defensemen

Points:

1. Zach Wilkie (Peoria Rivermen) – 30 points
2. Dalton Skelly (Knoxville Ice Bears) – 20 points
3. Chase Spencer (Peoria Rivermen) – 19 points

Goals:

1. Dalton Skelly (Knoxville Ice Bears) – Eight goals
2. Johnny Witzke (Quad City Storm) – Eight goals
3. Chase Spencer (Peoria Rivermen) – Seven goals

Assists:

1. Zach Wilkie (Peoria Rivermen) – 25 assists
2. Taylor Brierley (Birmingham Bulls) – 14 assists
3. Charlie Risk (Huntsville Havoc) – 14 assists

Current Overall Leaders

Points:

1. Zach Wilkie (Peoria Rivermen) – 30 points
2. Tyler Williams (Knoxville Ice Bears) – 26 points
3. Tyson Gilmour (Evansville Thunderbolts) – 22 points

Goals:

1. Tyler Williams (Knoxville Ice Bears) – 10 goals
2. Tyson Gilmour (Evansville Thunderbolts) – 10 goals
3. Gustav Muller (Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs) – Nine goals

Assists:

1. Zach Wilkie (Peoria Rivermen) – 25 assists
2. Tyler Williams (Knoxville Ice Bears) – 16 assists
3. Filimon Ledziankou (Birmingham Bulls) – 15 assists

Transactions by Team

Birmingham On December 31, Birmingham loaned LW Arkhip Ledziankou to ECHL Kalamazoo, placed LW Tobias Odjick on 14-day IR, and acquired LW Alex LaPlante from Pensacola. On January 3, they loaned C MacGregor Sinclair to ECHL Idaho and signed RW Elijah Wilson.

Evansville On January 2, Evansville loaned G Ty Taylor to ECHL Orlando. On January 3, they signed G Reid Cooper.

Fayetteville On December 30, Fayetteville returned G Ryan Kenny from ECHL South Carolina, signed LW Vitali Mikhailov and D Gehrig Lindberg. On December 31, they loaned RW Dalton Hunter to ECHL Wheeling and signed RW Austin Bellefeuille. On January 4, they signed C Aaron Ryback. They also claimed Aaron Ryback off waivers from Quad City.

Knoxville On December 31, Knoxville activated LW Davis Kirkendall from the reserve list and loaned C Mitch Atkins to ECHL Greenville. On January 3, they loaned C Derek Osik to ECHL Greenville and returned RW Mitch Atkins from ECHL Greenville. On January 4, they added G Phil Krawec as an emergency backup.

Macon On December 30, Macon signed C Chris Hunt and released G Zach Denny as an emergency backup. On December 31, they returned G Dysen Skinner from ECHL Atlanta. On January 2, they activated D Brad Jenion from IR.

Peoria On December 30, Peoria placed RW Mike Gelatt on 30-day IR, signed C Carson Baptiste, D Jordan Gagnon, C Nick Gullo, and G Trevor Babin, and placed G Brandon Perrone on waivers. On December 31, they activated RW Braydon Barker from IR. On January 5, they placed C Griffen Fox on 14-day IR and placed G Trevor Babin on waivers.

Pensacola On December 30, Pensacola activated RW Tyler Ho from IR, signed LW Michael Herrera, and traded LW Alex Laplante to Birmingham for future considerations. On January 2, they signed C Chiwetin Blacksmith and placed D Preston Kugler on 14-day IR.

Quad City On December 31, Quad City placed LW Lukas Lacny on 14-day IR, signed C Brandon Stojcevski and D Jacob Gagnon. On January 3, they moved LW Artyom Zhuk from 14-day IR to 30-day IR, placed D Aaron Ryback on waivers, placed D Johnny Witzke on 14-day IR, signed RW Zac Sirota and RW Alex Hudson. On January 5, they placed RW Zac Sirota on waivers and signed C Tyler Vanuden.

Roanoke On January 2, Roanoke signed RW Reid Perepeluk, activated D Brendan Pepe from IR, placed C Owen McDade on team suspension, and placed C Brenden Stanko on 14-day IR.

Suspensions

Lucas Helland of Knoxville
Suspended for one game due to his actions during Game 117, where Birmingham faced Knoxville on December 31. Helland received a major penalty and a game misconduct for boarding at 19:18 of the third period.

Nicola Levesque of Quad City
Suspended for one game as a result of his conduct in Game 120, where Quad City played against Peoria on December 31. Levesque was given a minor penalty for instigating, a major penalty for fighting, and a game misconduct under Rule 46.12 for instigating an altercation in the final five minutes of regulation at 17:11 of the third period.

Player of the Week (December 23-29)

Nick Ford (Roanoke): Named Warrior SPHL Player of the Week for December 23-29. Ford scored three goals, including one game-winner, and added an assist as Roanoke went 3-0-0 for the week.

Player of the Month (December 2024)

Austin Alger (Huntsville): Named December Warrior SPHL Player of the Month. Alger recorded a point in all but one game last month, scoring six goals and adding 11 assists, leading the Havoc to an 8-2-1 record in December.